Differentiated Instruction (DI):




The PowerPoint Presentation will be presented as visual information and the auditory information will be provided by me while I present the Introduction to Differentiated Instruction.


  • Encourages the adaption of instruction to address student diversity as well as to meet curricular objectives.
  • Emphasizes student accountability for learning
  • Promotes collaboration through flexible grouping and simultaneous activities.
  • Focuses on the quality of activities versus the quantity of work assigned.
  • Depends on pre-assessment, assessment during the activities and post-assessment.
  • Promotes a comfortable yet challenging learning environment.
  • Promotes group tasks and individual work.
  • Supplies rubrics for students to know exaclty what is needed.
  • The organization and presentation of content profoundly affects students’ motivation to learn and their ability to understand, therefore it is important that the work is well organized, easy to access and understand.



Student Dependent Dimension




As a result, student surveys and other tools used to learn about students are important. Teachers need to start off by assessing students interests, learning preferences and multiple intelligences.

The Different Learning Styles:



In http://youtu.be/fQYW6vYSGXs


The visual Learner:

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The visual Learner learns best when information is presented in a written format or in another visual format such as pictures or diagrams.

Example of Visual Learning Strategies:

  • Use of pictures, photographs and cartoons to illustrate key ideas.
  • Use graphs, charts and outlines.
  • Use maps to explain anything to do with places, even virtual maps like for example Google Maps and Google Earth.
  • Provide written instructions to complement verbal instructions.
  • Provide books which explain the concepts, links to websites can also be provided.
  • Use films or tutorials to explain new ideas.
  • Use a teach color-coding as a method of organization.
  • Create and use graphic organizers to teach complex ideas.
  • Use timelines.

The Auditory Learner:

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The auditory Learner learns best when information is presented in an auditory format.

Example of Auditory Learning Strategies:

  • Use podcasts or human voice to transmit key ideas.
  • Integrate discussions into the lesson.
  • Read out all the instructions aloud.
  • Create groups in which students interact.
  • Integrate videos and CDs.
  • Encourage oral presentations over written as assessment of mastery.
  • Allow studying with music.

The Kinesthetic Learner:

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The kinesthetic Learner learns best in hands-on learning settings in which they can physically manipulate something in order to learn about it.

Example of Kinesthetic Learning Strategies:

  • Construct models to illustrate complex ideas.
  • Provide opportunity for building of models to demostrate learning.
  • Use games to lead to understanding.
  • Provide opportunities to use experiments.
  • Promote group work.
  • Plan fieldtrips, even virtual ones.
  • Allow role playing for math characterization, science processes and literature scenes.


Multiple Intelligences:

Types of Intelligences:

Linguistic:

Thinks with words and sentences and excels in lectures, debates, group discussions, writing activities, reading, journal keeping, interviewing etc.

Logical Mathematical:

Thinks by reasoning and excels with scientific demonstrations, calculations, logical-sequential exercises, problem solving exercises experiments etc.

Kinesthetic:

Thinks through physical participation and excels in games, group activities, crafts, gardening, manipulatives, projects, computers etc.

Spatial:

Thinks through images and pictures and excels in modeling, graphs, diagrams, computers, mazes, mind-maps visualization techniques etc.

Musical:

Thinks through melodies and rhythms and excels in recordings, singing, chants, instruments etc.

Interpersonal:

Thinks better when communicating with others and excels in interviewing, cooperative groups, peer teaching, brainstorming, simulations, community service etc.

Intrapersonal:

Thinks better alone and excels in reading, reflective processes, self-paced instruction, individualized projects, one minute reflection periods, journal keeping etc.

Adapted from Gardner (2006). Multiple Intelligences: New Horizons in Theory and Practice. New York: Basic Books.

Student Surveys to determine their learner profiles:

Once you know your students learning styles, interests and multiple intelligences you can prepare your lesson plan.